Axios San Antonio

January 25, 2023
🐫 It's Wednesday!
☀️Today's weather: The sun returns with a high near 62° and low around 37°.
📬 Situational awareness: The price of stamps increased Sunday for the third time in nearly 17 months.
- Postage for a 1-ounce letter is now 63 cents.
Today's newsletter is 883 words — a 3.5-minute read.
1 big thing: Restaurant Week features 100 menus
Restaurant Week is underway in San Antonio. Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios
Restaurant Week, a biannual food event organized by the nonprofit Culinaria, is around for a few more days.
Why it matters: The citywide promotion, which started in 2010, exposes restaurants to new clientele by offering prix fixe menus at a lower price point than a full meal would normally cost.
How it works: Restaurants create menus for brunch, lunch and/or dinner for the event, which takes place in August and January. The winter edition started Jan. 16 and lasts through Saturday.
- Restaurants do not pay to participate, but they donate to Culinaria on a sliding scale: $1 for each meal sold during brunch, $2 for lunch and $3-$5 for dinner, depending on the meal price.
- Participating eateries range from casual restaurants like Mi Roti at Pearl's food hall to elevated dining experiences like Up Scale. Menus are available here.
- The funds are then funneled back to the local hospitality industry, Culinaria vice president Ginger Robinson tells Axios.
What they're saying: Leo Davila, chef-owner of Stixs & Stone, says many of his regulars were introduced to his restaurant during Restaurant Week.
- "This is our fourth time participating over the span of a year and a half and each time it gets better. During the event we see an increase in customers by at least a double," he tells Axios.
Flashback: In April 2020, Culinaria used Restaurant Week funds to provide aid for furloughed restaurant workers and businesses throughout the pandemic.
Zoom out: San Antonio is seeing a resurgence in people dining out, according to OpenTable data.
- "It's good to see that we're bouncing back. It was definitely a tough time, and I don't think by any means that it's through — there are still shortages, still staffing issues — but I think for the most part, it is bouncing back and we're optimistic about the progress," Robinson says.
2. Toss-up for Spurs memorabilia
Five autographed items are in the Manu Ginóbili auction. Photo: Courtesy of Spurs Sports and Entertainment
Spurs fans have the chance to own a piece of Manu Ginóbili's championship history in San Antonio through an online auction.
Why it matters: Ginóbili's tenacious playing style made him a fan favorite through 16 seasons. He spent his entire NBA career with the Spurs and helped the team win four championships.
What's happening: Spurs Give, the charitable arm of the team, is auctioning five items today through Feb. 8 at 10pm.
- All proceeds will benefit the team's nonprofit and will support the Spurs Youth Basketball League, which promotes the game in predominantly low-income neighborhoods.
How it works: Fans interested in placing bids can access the auction here.
- Three jerseys, one of which was worn by Ginóbili during the 2011-2012 season, are available.
- Two prints are also in the auction inventory.
- All items were signed by the basketball star.
What's next: Spurs Give says the auction was planned to align with the Spurs 2005 Championship-themed night on Feb. 1. Ginóbili, who retired in 2018, was part of the 2005 title team.
- The themed night, happening as the Spurs host the Sacramento Kings, is part of the 50th anniversary schedule.
- The first 10,000 fans at the game will get a Ginóbili bobblehead.
Meanwhile, Ginóbili, 45, is spending his retirement cycle training in Spring Branch.
He also caught up with nine former teammates, including Tim Duncan, Patty Mills and Fabricio Oberto recently.
3. Inside the Loop
Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
Councilmember Clayton Perry, who faces a charge of driving while intoxicated in connection with a hit-and-run crash, is still gauging support for a potential re-election bid. He received warm applause at a neighborhood meeting the night before he appeared in court. (San Antonio Report)
🍪 Girl Scout cookie season starts today. Expect to see Girl Scouts selling cookies throughout the city through Feb. 26. (SA Current)
🤖 Tech Port Center + Arena is now called the Boeing Center at Tech Port. The name change for the facility, which opened less than a year ago, was announced yesterday during an event attended by Gov. Greg Abbott. (San Antonio Express-News 🔒)
4. 💸 Your health insurance might be going up

Texas is among 36 states where private health insurance premiums are increasing this year, according to Axios' Tina Reed.
By the numbers: The average monthly cost for a 40-year-old in Texas on a silver plan — a middle-of-the-road coverage option — is expected to jump 2.4%, from $575 to $589, per data from consumer research company ValuePenguin.
- Nationwide, the cost of a 40-year-old's silver plan will jump by about 4% from last year.
Zoom out: Where you live heavily influences how much you pay. Insurance costs are decreasing in 14 states, including a 10.4% drop in Louisiana. Costs are going up most in Georgia at 20%.
Meanwhile: Auto and home insurance rates are also rising quickly in Texas.
Wake up to a brighter future
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5. One gordita to go: Lala's
The bean and cheese gordita and the guacamole cup from Lala's Gorditas, 1600 Roosevelt Ave. Photo: Megan Stringer/Axios
👋 Megan here! I recently tried Lala's Gorditas for the first time. I was pretty ravenous and searching for nearby food with some friends.
The colorful, pink walk-up spot was immediately inviting.
What to order: This vegetarian had the bean and cheese gordita and loved the crunchy shell and crema.
- The guacamole cup was cute and appetizing. It's a small tortilla bowl filled to the brim with guac. You probably want one all to yourself.
Where: On the South Side near Concepcion Park and the missions. 1600 Roosevelt Ave.
Cost: $4.95 for the bean and cheese gordita; $2.75 for the guacamole cup.
Bottom line: It was the perfect spot to satisfy a craving without breaking the bank.
Thanks to our editor Bob Gee and copy editors Judith Isacoff and Keely Bastow.
🍽️ Madalyn is excited to check out the just-opened Santa Diabla.
🎞️ Megan is perusing this year's list of Oscars nominees and is prepping her watchlist. It's about time to finally see "Triangle of Sadness" and "Everything Everywhere All at Once."
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